Alexander Weir, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The global mushroom industry is worth $35 billion yearly and growing. But mushrooms and other fungi play important ecological roles that scientists are still learning about – and some may be endangered.

Australia is among seven countries contributing to more than half of the world's biodiversity loss. Yet next month, a crucial network of long-term research sites will lose funding.

Sulawesi, part of the biogeographical region of Wallacea, is home to tarsiers – tiny, goggle-eyed creatures look more like mammalian tree frogs than monkeys.
Ondrej Prosicky/www.shutterstock.comOctober 15, 2017

Executive Director, Pacific Biodiversity Institute; Affiliate Professor, University of Washington at Bothell; Research Associate, University of Cape Town (ACDI and FitzPatrick Institute), University of Cape Town